We Shall Overcome

Forty thousand fans arrived at Wembley to roar Boro to the Premier League.They left dejected but Aitor Karanka was undeterred.“I want to say how proud I am of my players,my chairman, my club and my crowd."In a thrilling season, Karanka and his players restored belief and hope.Yes they fell short, but they can reflect with pride.Those fans that turned London red? They're simply left gagging for more.

Mogga's foundations.

His role in somehow managing to get the likes of Nicky Bailey, Scott McDonald and Barry Robson off the books eased the financial pressure at the club after Gordon Strachan's ill-fated term in charge.

Without Mogga's team trimming, Aitor Karanka wouldn't have been afforded the opportunity to bring in the players he identified as promotion-winning game-changers. Simple.

Yet why should the focus zoom in purely on the outgoings during Mogga's reign?

After all, it's players who the former boss identified and signed who have gone on to become indispensables in Karanka's team.

George Friend, Grant Leadbitter, Albert Adomah, even Dimi Konstantopoulos - although Mogga would be the first to admit he didn't see the experienced Greek going on to establish himself as the Championship's best stopper.

Of course, this isn't intended to underestimate the superb job Aitor Karanka has done in getting the very best out of every player.

But he didn't build this current squad from scratch, the foundations were in place and how sturdy they have proved to be.

Rotation. Rather than grow frustrated by a Teesside-wide inability to second guess Karanka, Boro's faithful have come to accept it's part of the gaffer's make-up.

A philosophy first introduced by German great Jupp Heynckes, a coach Aitor Karanka has worked with, is embraced by the Boro boss.

Yet within that the few players who seem immune to any tinkering are those brought in by his predecessor.

"Tony Mowbray spent two years clearing the decks out to allow Aitor Karanka to walk in with a platform to recruit very, very good young players."

Dougie Freedman - a man who knows all about working with financial pressures in the Championship.

"It has paid off for them, but it has been a process that has been ongoing for four or five years, which is now coming together."

That dark day at Barnsley will haunt Tony Mowbray for the rest of his managerial career.

But rather than focus on those finals hours, Mogga should be remembered for clearing up Strachan's mess and setting out the building blocks for such a memorable campaign.

Leadbelter

A free-kick that led to comparisons with the great Roberto Carlos deserved to win any game. But just when it looked as though Huddersfield had snatched a point in the dying moments, the stand-in skipper stepped up and tucked home a last gasp penalty.

Regardless of the pressure with the clock ticking ominously close to Boro throwing away two points, there was never any doubt that Leadbitter would hit the net.

Mackem-born and a Sunderland fan, but nerves of Teesside steel.

The season was little more than a month old but Leadbitter had already stamped his authority on the campaign. Remarkably, that nerve-settling penalty at the John Smith's Stadium was his seventh goal of the season and how important it proved to be - setting Boro on an eight-match unbeaten run as they established themselves as genuine promotion hopefuls at the top end of the Championship. That's where they would stay.

The goals kept coming, as did the matchwinning performances. His commitment and desire never showed any signs of flat-lining.

Tenacious, hard-working and box-to-box Grant Leadbitter has always been but this year those displays came with a topping of creativity - and goals.

Twelve in total, eight from the spot, two of which were undoubtedly among the most important of Boro's goals this season.

As the televised January clash at Griffin Park edged into the last five minutes of the first period, the half-time whistle couldn't come soon enough.

For Boro had been second best from the off, played off the park by Mark Warburton's well-drilled troops who were showing exactly why they were genuine play-off contenders.

Peering out from under the cosh, Boro were gifted a golden opportunity from the spot on the brink of the break. Leadbitter did the rest.

With that goal came another iconic image from the season. A roar of approval on the skipper's face as he wheels away in delight, just as he had done after firing Boro ahead in the crunch clash at home to Derby the month earlier.

When the stand-in skipper, quick to pass the armband back to Woodgate when the colossal centre-half was on the pitch, was congratulated after hitting two goals against Norwich in the 4-0 mauling of the Canaries, he retorted with "I'd rather have have had three."

For Leadbitter isn't one to rest on his laurels, to pat himself on the back. Instead, he strives to continuously improve his game and get the best out of himself.

The widespread panic that greeted his petulant yellow card in the final seconds of the defeat at Watford demonstrated just how vital Leadbitter has been to this promotion push.

He's played in the Premier League before and after the best season of his professional career, he deserved to be back on the top table once more.

Just visiting

Their stay may well have been temporary but their dedication to the cause was never questioned.

Aitor Karanka’s transfer record has been largely faultless, the same can be said of his use of the loan system.

Young players, hungry to succeed, hungry to impress, quick to buy into the philosophy at the club.

Think back to how the loan window has stung Boro in the six difficult years in the Championship.

They were agreed by players who believed Boro was the right move for them.

And to think Boro could have missed out on Bamford.

The longer the season went on, the more Premier League scouts set up camp at the Riverside. And the more Bamford impressed.

Cast your mind back to the start of the season when Roy Hodgson randomly plucked the gifted frontman from the Under-21 squad to train with the seniors on a one-off occasion.

Give it a year or two and there will be nothing one off about Bamford’s international career, for this is a footballer destined for the top.

The 21-year-old oozes class in everything he does, from his wonderful touch in front of goal to his ease in front of a camera in a post-match interview.

And there isn’t a striker in the league who you would have rather had in your team in the second half of the campaign.

Since the turn of the year, whether it’s been out on the unfavoured right-flank or leading the line, when Bamford has played, more often than not he’s scored.

Yet even when he was having to put in a shift on the flank, he made no secret about the fact he’d prefer to be at the head of the attack, yet never once showed an ounce of attitude – instead simply getting on with the job in hand.

“Playing on the right isn’t a role I prefer but sometimes you’ve got to do it for the team,” he said back in February.

“I’m loving it here and fortunately I’ve been scoring goals, even though I’ve been playing out of position.

“Thankfully I’ve had a knack of scoring wherever I’ve played so imagine what I could do if I played up front all the time.”

We didn’t have to imagine for long. Karanka, no stranger to a tinker or two, soon realised Bamford was an indispensable.

While the deal to bring Bamford to the Riverside wasn’t straight forward, it was a stroll in the park compared to the mission to sign hashtag hostage Jelle Vossen.

His goal return has been slightly disappointing, granted, but he’s covered more ground than a marathon runner tackling a gruelling training programme.

And the temporary additions proved as much of a hit at the other end.

The signing of Ryan Fredericks was met with dashes to the nearest keyboard to try and find out a bit more about him and perplexed looks about how he’d force his way in with Damia Abella clearly the first choice full back.

Hard as nails, rapid down the right flank and useful in the opposing third. Even a brick wall would cower if Fredericks was charging into it in the full-blooded fashion that Boro fans embrace as warmly as a touch of magic to create a goal.

Tomas Kalas as well. A late addition but a vital one. He’d endured a frustrating time on loan in Germany but nothing of the sort at Boro. The no-nonsense defender got on the buzzer to Aitor Karanka to ask if he could stay up north until the end of the campaign - even though he couldn’t play after the win at Norwich.

Those loan players will head back to their parent clubs this summer. They’ll have stories to tell, memories to treasure. And they’ll head back as improved footballers.

For this we were happy

Out strolled the manager into the Saturday 3pm Riverside air for the very first time.

A sheepish wave to those in the stands, a quick retreat to the dugout, for it was the 90 minutes ahead and not his introduction which Karanka was overly concerned about.

Very few knew what to expect from the new manager. Very few knew too much about him before diving into Wikipedia to familiarise themselves with the man tasked with carrying the hopes of the town.

And while Boro’s hopeful faithful familiarised themselves with the man replacing Mogga, Karanka set about familiarising himself with the Championship. No simple task.

An away debut at Leeds was a blood and thunderous welcome to the second tier, the defeat not the result he was hoping for.

But now came a winnable home game with Bolton. A 1-0 victory, the new boss was off the mark.

It was the only win in his first five games, a stretch that left Karanka doubting himself early in his managerial career.

But there were no doubts in Steve Gibson’s mind, he was certain he’d identified and appointed the man to take Boro back to the big time.

And improvements were soon made.

The defence, so worryingly leaky in the final stages of Mowbray’s campaign, was tightened. Nine clean sheets in 12 league games.

Unfortunately, Boro were as blunt at one end as they were solid at the other.

But the plans were already being put in place, attention already turning to the following season. Scouts dotted about picking out players capable of transforming the side from mid-table mediocrity into promotion candidates.

Players were identified long before the final day stroll at Yeovil. While fans and players soaked up the sun on their summer holidays, Karanka was plotting a promotion charge.

The perfect start at home to Birmingham was followed by a frustrating spell of inconsistency. Those painful consecutive defeats at home to Sheffield Wednesday and Reading proved pivotal.

The club responded by announcing the signings of Jelle Vossen and Yanic Wildschut - joining Patrick Bamford and Adam Clayton as players who had arrived after the season had started.

How Karanka will wish he could have wrapped those up before a ball was kicked.

But three months into the season, the fans had seen enough to be convinced. A huge 97% who voted in our Karankaversary poll believed Boro would finish in the play-off places or higher.

For this, everyone on Teesside was very happy.

And they were proved right. Unfortunately Boro couldn’t take that final step, a leap into the promised land.

Fit and proper

Three words that told you everything you needed to know: Fit and proper.

Aitor Karanka doesn’t join in from the dugout but he must have at least whistled along to the tune after the meetings with the chairman where he got the green light to strengthen his promotion-chasing squad.

His respect of Gibson was clear from day one.

“The main reason I came here in the first place was because of him, and he has supported me ever since,” said the boss in January.

“Our first meeting was fantastic and he has always supported us.”

Just like those who’ve followed Boro up and down the country this year, who’ve packed out away ends and roared their side to Wembley – Gibson is a fan.

And he’s a rare breed. A chairman who puts the club’s best interests at heart. HIS club’s best interests at heart.

Take a glance around the rest of the Championship.

The Blackpool circus came to a head on the final game of the season with Karl Oyston the subject of raging fury, Massimo Cellino doesn’t know whether he’s coming or going, the Venkys have gone from being catastrophically hands-on to worryingly quiet and only Matthew Benham knows why he’s making a glut of changes at Brentford.

The dark cloud of uncertainty hangs over so many clubs in the English second tier.

Yet at Boro, grateful supporters, led by the Twe12th Man, sang the chairman’s name for the first five minutes of the final league game of the season.

It was the latest in a long line of tributes. And a show of appreciation that is shared by the players.

“There’s never been a fear that we’ll struggle financially or have an unclear future so long as he’s been here. He knows what he’s doing.

“We’ve got a chairman who has kept our club safe through some tricky times and is always looking for ways to take the club forward.”

For Steve Gibson, it’s business as usual. But that’s what he’s done – once again he’s taken the club forward.

His continued willingness to dig into his own pocket allowed his hometown club to compete.

Steve Gibson deserved promotion.

He’ll have suffered as a fan at Wembley - but he'll do everything in his power to fund another promotion push next season.

The Clayton saga

Was he or wasn’t he?

With every day came another twist, another stumbling block, another delay.

The one thing that was constant was Boro’s unrelenting desire to bring Adam Clayton to Teesside.

The fact that the deal wasn’t a simple one to get over the line wasn’t a deterrent.

Aitor Karanka had put a star next to the name of the engine room enforcer on his summer shopping list.

Clayton was a priority. For the boss, the bearded midfielder and Huddersfield’s star man the season previous was a vital piece to his promotion-chasing jigsaw.

They say good things come to those who wait.

How crucial then that Boro stuck it out, that they didn’t get cold feet as the summer saga that quickly developed into an unpredictable soap opera rumbled on.

And as Aitor Karanka will no doubt look back on the signing of Clayton as a pivotal bit of business, the midfielder himself will thank his lucky stars that he didn’t choose Brighton over Boro.

You’d be hard pressed to make a case for a better midfield pairing than Adam Clayton and his fellow centre-circle lieutenant Grant Leadbitter.

And while Leadbitter clocked up the miles week in, week out busting a gut to belt from box to box, enjoying what has undoubtedly been the best season of his career, Clayton patrolled the middle of the park with a combative yet classy mix of steel and style.

A goal in his debut season for Boro never arrived but that won’t bother the boss one bit.

For his game-winning contributions came with crucial interceptions, his crunching challenges, the Hollywood-style cross-field passes that he’d spray across the full width of the pitch.

Clayton has won 80% of his tackles and almost 70% of his aerial duels. His passing accuracy is more than 82% and he’s made 286 recoveries. Add to that the 51 chances he’s created, Clayton can look back on his season as a job well done.

Adam Forshaw’s January arrival added competition. Competition in the form of an excellent footballer who is equally adept in the holding role or as a No.10.

But Karanka’s favoured partnership weren’t to be budged.

Granted, Clayton did suffer a brief loss of form in the second half of the season but it wasn’t lost for long.

Those final, ever-so-crucial games brought out the best of the 26-year-old; his finest performance undoubtedly coming in the play-off semi-final second leg against Brentford.

It was a season to remember for Clayton and a season that took him back to where it all began – Manchester City.

Cup inspires league form

Those who argue cup competitions are merely a distraction for promotion-chasing Championship sides are not in the minority.

Aitor Karanka isn't one of them.

A necessarily evil? Nothing of the sort. For the boss, a man who spent a significant amount of his playing career playing in the unforgiving world at Real Madrid, anything less than a victory is a failure - regardless of the opposition.

Yet when Boro's faithful hit the road and headed for Oldham on a warm August evening - just four days after the campaign had kicked off with an impressive victory over Birmingham - not even the eternal optimist could have possibly predicted the ecstasy, the drama and the pride that the cup competitions would bring.

A cup final? Not even close. But Wembley Way doesn't have to feature to make a cup run a memorable one.

Rather than distract, the cup competitions inspired. They offered fans and players alike a glimpse of what life could be like next season. And Boro looked right at home on the big stage.

The great Anfield atmosphere drowned out by 2,800 travelling Teessiders tucked into a corner, the viral Vine videos of Boro's elated fans rocking the Etihad to its very foundations.

Premier League giants stunned, Boro on the map. Again.

The fact the Capital Cup journey ended at 'just' the third round and the FA Cup at the fifth doesn't tell half the story.

Anfield, the Etihad and the Emirates, the homes of European giants, a chance to stand up and be counted grasped in an emphatic manner.

Liverpool cup epic

"It was the kind of game where you have to be very proud about your players, about your group, about your crowd, about everything."

Underdogs as they walked on to the Anfield pitch - the home of so many famous cup nights in years gone by - Boro didn't know it yet but they would soon be cast as the main characters in this enthralling, absorbing encounter.

This wasn't a night that belonged to the hosts, regardless of the result.

As Boro's beaten players, battling cramp and exhausted muscles, staggered over to recognise the efforts of the travelling fans, they were greeted by a roar of appreciation.

Those superb fans must have been battling their own fatigue. How their lungs managed to generate one more roar after two hours of non-stop singing was as impressive as the accuracy of the perfect penalties they'd witnessed just moments earlier.

Pick a spot, the players hit it. The poor keepers reduced to spectators like everyone else in Anfield who'd long before nudged to the edge of their seats.

The incredible shoot-out went on - and on - and on. Disappointment in defeat? Of course. That's only natural. But that feeling was overpowered by a fulfilment that we were watching a Boro side to be reckoned with.

A Boro side that were on the back of three league wins in a row and getting better by the week.

In the moments immediately before the shoot-out, Boro's shattered players were scattered around the Anfield turf, the medical team thumbing the knots out of their weary muscles. A calm Karanka spoke with them all. By that point, he'd seen enough.

"I told the players before the penalties that our work was done.

"We have played against a Champions League team at Anfield and everyone knows how difficult it would be for us to play against Liverpool.

"We have stood toe-to-toe with them and that is a very good thing for me.

"We have shown everyone on TV what kind of club Middlesbrough is."

Rarely can a defeat inspire such belief; both on the pitch and in the terraces.

Indeed, it was the game at Anfield that was unsurprisingly selected as the runaway winner when we asked fans to vote for the most enjoyable game of Karanka's tenure for the Karankaversary back in November.

Little did we know at the time that another cup clash that would live long in the memory was just around the corner.

City cup win

Picking out the perfect picture from that memorable afternoon is as difficult a task as the one that faced Manuel Pellegrini when he faced up to the blood-thirsty national press after the game.

Patrick Bamford wheeling away with thousands of Boro fans seemingly grappling with each other in sheer delight in the background, Lee Tomlin leaving Vincent Kompany feeling like he'd staggered off the waltzers at a fairground, Kike wide-eyed looking as stunned as everyone else in the Etihad after he stroked the ball into the net to dump City out.

Time often eases emotions but that win, that performance, remains as incredible now as it felt in the adrenaline-filled moments following the final whistle.

Boro's away-day army battled the torture of gridlocked winter motorways that day to snake their way over the Pennines and into the Darwen End.

Of the Ewood Park attendance, 32% were Boro fans. Incredible.

Sell-outs in league and cup. Geographical barriers simply ignored - long days on the road have been part and parcel of the season.

It's been commonplace for opposing home fans to take to Twitter in the aftermath of a defeat to compliment the magnificent efforts of Boro's dedicated diehards.

Karanka, too, has been keen to pass on his praise, both in post-match interviews and in the moments immediately following the full-time whistle, joined by lieutenant Leo in an applause of approval to the travelling troop of Teessiders.

It's no surprise really. The boss will be all too aware of the impact the sell-out stands have had on his side.

10 wins out of 23 on the road, only seven defeats: the fourth best record in the Championship.

The away-day average makes for impressive reading, the pictures of Boro's following faithful make for impressive viewing.

"The best away fans in the country by far." Woodgate had a point.

Together as one

Smiles all round: the staff and the players, together as one.

A picture that went viral around Teesside, fast. Profile pictures on Twitter and Facebook quickly changed - the joy of those in the shot shared by the fans who studied every element of the fantastic photograph.

“We don’t think of these as individual awards,” said Aitor Karanka, his stock rising all the time.

“The most important thing is the team and it’s for all the club and all our squad.”

That’s largely been the narrative of the season for the manager. Win as one, lose as one.

He often refuses to pick out one player for credit after a game, instead heaping praise on his full squad.

And it’s been clear from the off that this is a squad pulling in the same direction - a tight unit.

The scenes at the full-time whistle of crucial results in the final third of the season were telling.

Derby away when the victorious players couldn’t get over to the red corner to celebrate with the fans quick enough and Norwich away as Leo stretched out his huge arms and engulfed the full coaching staff in a passionate embrace.

Brentford fans bemoaned Boro’s celebrations as the referee brought the play-off semi-final first leg to an end but there was nothing new in Boro’s delight.

The togetherness of the team made the departures in the immediate aftermath of the play-off final defeat even harder to take.

“The camaraderie between the English and foreign players, we all get on well.

“There is a winning mentality in the dressing room, nobody likes losing and that comes from the manager.

“The team spirit in the dressing room is phenomenal.”

Rockliffe will be graced by new arrivals in the summer, it’s vital they slip in as seamlessly as the signings in the past 12 months.

Back on the radar

Never mind the traditional 3pm kick-off on a Saturday.

We soon become accustomed to altering the body-clock, to changing the tried and tested routines.

The stadium’s catering staff must have considered putting breakfast on the menu in the concourse. For fans would often find themselves taking their seats at the Riverside on a Saturday morning ready for another appearance on the box.

Or failing that, they’d be in the boozer on a Friday night ready for Sky's Simon Thomas to appear on the screen – prompting the Twittersphere into action with moans and groans berating the ‘anti-Boro brigade’.

Well some bigwig in Murdoch’s empire was certainly not anti-Boro. In the second half of the season, a fortnight would hardly pass without the cameras rolling into town.

Boro were still in the second tier but they were firmly on the national radar.

It was the win at Manchester City that did it. That stunning second half display in which Boro’s crisp and cutting counter attack football (Harlee Dean was probably watching) dissected the champions with ease.

The stunning result which turned heads. That added to the spiritedly impressive display at Anfield earlier in the season.

Who’d blame the TV executives for wanting to get more of Boro on the box?

Unfortunately, it wasn’t all pretty. Leeds was frustrating, Bournemouth painful and Watford disheartening.

But Brentford was satisfying, Norwich efficiently professional and the second leg of the play-off semi-final stunning. The TV bosses didn’t sign up for gritty 1-0 smash and grabs but you’d be hard pressed to find a Boro fan who cares.

We’ve endured six years of relative nothingness. Championship purgatory littered with a few flirtatious stints at the top end of the league and a memorable night at the Stadium of Light.

And then comes one of the most memorable seasons in recent history.

Ask half a dozen Boro fans to pick out a highlight of the season and the chances are they’d all point to different games, different moments.

With those moments came the national interest. But it didn’t come without frustration.

Fans forced into delaying their travel arrangements while TV bosses deliberated over who should get the nod.

There was a time when the sight of cameras was met by a roll of the eyes.

“Boro never perform when they’re on the box!’

That’s just one of the Typical Boro myths Aitor Karanka has gobbled up and spat back out again.

The fact the boss is good mates with a certain chap who lives in the capital inevitably drew interest.

But so did the football. So did the victories. So did the fact Boro were a thing again.

Renew your subscriptions - there’s every chance Boro will hog their fair share of TV time next season as well.

The clocks hadn't even gone back and Christmas lists had themselves a new addition. For the club shop revealed they weren't expecting new stock until December.

That Teesside trend was no one-off. The limited-edition white third strip sold out within hours. Judging by the sales, you'd have thought it would have been difficult to take a stroll down Linthorpe Road and pick out anyone who wasn't sporting one of Boro's popular shirts.

Yet queues weren't limited to shirt sales. A campsite down by the Riverside would have done a roaring trade on the night before tickets for the Arsenal FA Cup game went on sale.

And ticket office staff will have barely had time to boil the kettle for a cuppa as fans once again turned up in their dozens to play the waiting game and book their trips to Norwich and Fulham.

The fear was missing out. The race for the shirts, the race for away tickets, the race for seats at the Emirates and the Etihad and the race for a spot at the Riverside on the final day.

Boro's promotion push captivated the town and seduced the supporters who shared the same dream.

Poverty is not entertainment

The producers of TV-trash Benefits Street won’t have expected a welcoming embrace in Teesside - but they probably weren’t planning for emotive banners attacking the show at the Riverside.

But then if Red Faction have a point to get across, they usually make sure they do it in emphatic fashion.

“I would like to have the same passionate people who come when we play away, at home,” he said.

He couldn’t have asked for anything more from the Boro faithful on the final home game of the regular season.

And that was just a warm-up for the visit of Brentford in the play-offs. A night that will live long in the memory.

Que sera, sera

A packed terrace, under the lights, on the box - the enthralling encounter at Griffin Park had it all.

And if play-off semi-final first legs are supposed to be tight, cagey, edgy affairs, somebody forgot to tell the players of both sides.

This was none of the above. It was end-to-end, thrilling, absorbing. And Boro were brilliant.

One-hundred and eighty minutes away from Wembley. The pressure was incredibly intense, the Premier League prize becoming increasingly close. But Boro didn’t freeze, they delivered a professional away-day performance symptomatic of the type we became accustomed to at the start of the season.

In truth, a draw would have been a fair result. Neither of the brave, daring sides could have argued with that.

Yet with the play-offs comes a stage for heroes. Sometimes those heroes can come in an unlikely form.

The Boro are in London

Trafalgar Square with a Teesside refurb, the famous landmark a sea of red, the chorus of Boro hymns echoing around London.

Fans high on life and aided by a scoop or two throughout the afternoon embraced their fellow Boro believers on the ground while others scaled Nelson’s Column.

And they sang. Non-stop from mid-afternoon to the early hours of Monday morning, they sang.

Locals with no prior knowledge of the football spectacle taking place the following afternoon must have stood in shock when they discovered these were the scenes before the game had even started.

Imagine the reaction if Boro won!

While some supporters got into the thick of the action at the front, others watched on from afar, still taking in the electric atmosphere.

And word soon spread. Fans dotted around London raced to Trafalgar while others planning to make the trip to the capital on the day of the game expressed regret on social media that they weren’t part of the legion of Teessiders turning London red.

Forget hangovers. Adrenaline would carry the faithful through the following day.

And former players were in there as well. Matty Bates stood on the outskirts while Richie Smallwood, Boro born and bred, was the subject of a rousing chant of “He’s one of our own.”

And as Richie soaked it all up as a fan, he gave his former teammates a taste of the atmosphere.

A Facetime call to Grant Leadbitter, half a dozen of Boro players peering down the phone as Smallwood held the camera aloft to reveal the stunning scenes.

Incredible! Unforgettable! Boro’s unbelievable following making the most of the occasion and making memories that won’t budge in a hurry.

Over 40,000 Boro fans packed into Wembley Stadium fuelled by belief.

Forty-eight games played, one remained. 90 minutes from the promised land.

Those supporters were desperate to play their part. They roared out Pigbag and passionately bellowed one chant after another.

Unfortunately, hope turned to heartbreak, belief to devastation, joy to tears. A remarkable campaign was stopped in its tracks in five calamitous minutes.

The players on the pitch looked as distraught as the fans in the stands.

The message of the players: Harness this pain and go one better next year.